6-B. REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT
PRESIDENT:
THOSE OF US RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CONDUCT OF
THIS UNIVERSITY WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THIS
MOMENT TO RECOGNIZE THE IMPORTANT ROLE
PLAYED BY A VERY SPECIAL GROUP OF PEOPLE:
THE PARENTS OF THIS GRADUATING CLASS. WE
ARE AWARE OF THE HOPES, ASPIRATIONS AND
SACRIFICES WHICH GO WITH PROVIDING AN
EDUCATION FOR YOUR FAMILY.
YOUR EFFORTS HAVE MADE IT POSSIBLE FOR YOUR
SONS AND DAUGHTERS TO RECEIVE AN EDUCATION
IN THE HIGHEST TRADITION OF THIS GREAT
NATION. IN A VERY REAL SENSE, YOU HAVE
PROVIDED THE LEADERS WHO MUST NOW BE
RESPONSIBLE FOR MAINTAINING OUR HARD-EARNED
FREEDOMS AND OPPORTUNITIES.
WHILE THE DEGREES CONFERRED TODAY MAY BE
MORE THAN ADEQUATE COMPENSATION, WE NEVER-
THELESS EXTEND TO YOU OUR HEARTIEST THANKS
AND CONGRATULATIONS. IT HAS BEEN OUR
PRIVILEGE TO HELP FULFILL YOUR HOPES AND
ASPIRATIONS FOR THESE YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN
DURING THEIR NORTHWESTERN YEARS.
29.

OF COURSE COMMENCEMENT DAY PRIMARILY
BELONGS TO THE GRADUATES. WE ARE
PARTICULARLY PLEASED AND HONORED TO HAVE
WITH US TODAY MEMBERS OF THE GRADUATING
CLASS OF 1932 - LOYAL ALUMNI OF NORTH-
WESTERN UNIVERSITY WHO HAVE RETURNED TODAY
TO CELEBRATE THE 50th ANNIVERSARY OF THEIR
GRADUATION. WILL THOSE MEMBERS PLEASE
RISE AND RECEIVE OUR CONGRATULATIONS.
TO THE CLASS OF 1982 MAY I SAY - AS OF
TODAY, YOU ARE ALUMNI OF NORTHWESTERN
UNIVERSITY, AND AS ALUMNI I HOPE MANY OF
YOU WILL RETURN FOR YOUR FIFTIETH REUNION.
ON THAT OCCASION, THE CALENDAR WILL READ
2032! FEW OF US ON THIS PLATFORM WILL BE
HERE TO GREET YOU, BUT THE UNIVERSITY WILL
BE HERE. AND AS YOU WALK ALONG THE LAKE
AND THE TREE SHADED PATHS OF THE CAMPUS,
YOU WILL PROBABLY STILL CATCH SIGHT OF
UNIVERSITY HALL.
WHAT WILL YOU REMEMBER, FIFTY YEARS FROM
TODAY?
30.

IN ADDITION TO THE LIFE-LONG FRIENDSHIPS
YOU HAVE MADE ON THE CAMPUS, CERTAINLY
YOU WILL REMEMBER YOUR TEACHERS: THOSE
GREAT PROFESSORS AND SCHOLARS WHO - ALONE -
DISTINGUISH A UNIVERSITY. NO MATTER HOW
IMPORTANT THE BUILDINGS, EQUIPMENT, AND ALL
THE OTHER PHYSICAL PARAPHERNALIA OF AN
EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION, IT IS THE MEN
AND WOMEN WHO USE THEM THAT COUNT. IN
THEIR HANDS THESE FACILITIES SERVE YOU.
ANY TIME UNTIL TODAY, YOU COULD HAVE WITH-
DRAWN FROM THIS UNIVERSITY AND TRANSFERRED -
IN GOOD STANDING - TO VIRTUALLY ANY OTHER
INSTITUTION. BUT FROM THIS DAY ON, AS
ALUMNI, YOU BELONG TO NORTHWESTERN. AND,
EVEN MORE IMPORTANTLY NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY
BELONGS TO YOU. ITS ROLE DURING THE NEXT
FIFTY YEARS WILL BE DETERMINED BY YOUR ACTIONS
AND BY YOUR CARE FOR ITS FUTURE.
SO TODAY I EXTEND TO YOU MY WARMEST, MOST
SINCERE GOOD WISHES. AS YOU TAKE YOUR
PLACE IN THIS GREAT LAND OF OURS -- INDEED,
AS YOU NOW TAKE ON YOUR VITAL ROLE IN MAN-
KIND -- YOUR ALMA MATER ASKS THAT YOU
31.

REMEMBER THIS: IN SERVING YOUR FELLOW
MEN TO THE VERY BEST OF YOUR ABILITY, YOU
WILL JUSTIFY THE HOPES, THE ASPIRATIONS
AND THE VERY PURPOSE OF NORTHWESTERN
UNIVERSITY.
--
NOW I ASK THE NEW GRADUATES, AND OUR GUESTS,
TO PLEASE RISE AND JOIN IN SINGING OUR
UNIVERSITY ALMA MATER, WHICH IS PRINTED
INSIDE THE FRONT COVER OF YOUR PROGRAM.
7. THE UNIVERSITY ALMA MATER
Hail to Alma Mater!
We will sing thy praise forever;
All thy sons and daughters
Pledge thee victory and honor.
Alma Mater, praise be thine,
May thy name forever shine!
Hail to Purple!
Hail to White!
Hail to thee, Northwestern!
(Band plays 1/2 chorus instrumental.)
32.